2006 Billecart-Salmon - Cuvée Nicolas François Brut (95

2006 Billecart-Salmon - Cuvée Nicolas François Brut (95 pts) @champagne _billecart_salmon @mrbillecart · ℹ️ This Champagne cuvée was first created in 1964 as a tribute to the founder, but it is essentially the same as the historic Vintage Brut. It is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir (Montagne de Reims and Grand Vallée de la Marne) and 40% Chardonnay (Côte de Blancs) from Premier and Grand Cru vineyard sites. Every vintage goes through blind tasting trials to see what the final composition will be with variables being the grape blend, vineyard sites, and percentage aged in oak. A small percentage (5%) of the base wine was aged in an oak barrel but without malolactic fermentation. Aging on lees for 10 years. The dosage is 6 g/l· 👁 Pale gold color· 👃 Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of peach skin, red apple, baked quince, nectarine, orange blossom, lemon pith, Greek yogurt, marzipan, chalk, and toast· 👄 The wine is dry, high acidity, fine bubbles, medium alcohol (12.5%), and medium+ body. Fine bubbles with a chalky texture on the tongue. A long length finish of red apple, baked quince, marzipan, and chalk· 🔔 This wine is stunning right now. Give this a little air, and it is singing to you from the glass. The 2006 vintage is the current release, and this speaks loads to the Billecart-Salmon style to release the Cuvées slowly. The time on lees has built up a ton of complexity on the nose and layers of flavors on the palate. The bubbles are fine, but not super pervasive. The finish is delicate but long. This Champagne blows away most prestige cuvées at this price point. This may improve with age, but honestly, why wait? Cheers 🥂· 💰~$160· #vin #lovewine #🍷 #wineterroir #wine #billecartsalmon #champagne #champagnelover #champagnelife #champagnepop